I’ve always wanted to read this book. The story of Peter Pan is one that every boy dreams about. The lad is a definition of perpetual youth, and he can fly on top of that! His youth comes across so much more in the book than in any version I’ve seen before. There was a movie version I saw a couple years ago that had an adaptation that was very close to the book. It’s my favorite of the film versions.

Peter Pan is the story of a boy, abandoned as a child, who lives in a place called Neverland. When he loses his shadow he knows he must find it, but he finds much more than he expected. Three children of various ages are in the house where he lost it. It’s apparent that he is instantly infatuated by Wendy in particular, her brothers are more a means to get her to do what he wants, which is to return to Neverland with him.

Peter Pan is very conniving in the book, it’s brilliant. The author, J. M. Barrie, writes him as a young boy to be sure, but with a great deal of experience above the other children simply because he’s been one for so long. He easily brings Wendy around to the idea with subtle manipulation. Because, of course, there is no story if she doesn’t.  The rest of the book is of their adventures in Neverland and the eventual trip home since all stories must come to an end. I liked the ending a great deal, it really gives you an understanding of Peter’s long life.

Peter Pan is a classic. A story most families should read aloud when their children are young. The chapters aren’t long, and it goes pretty quick. Barrie had such a great understanding of the mind of a child. There’s a great movie about Barrie writing the book called Finding Neverland if you’re interested, it’s one of my top 5 favorite movies, Johnny Depp plays Barrie. The book itself is free in text and audio on Project Gutenberg.